Medical tubing assembly to facilitate tube fixation

Abstract

The invention concerns a medical tubing assembly ( 100 ) comprising: finned medical tubing ( 10 ) formed from an elongate tubular member ( 20 ) disposed with one or more longitudinal fins ( 21, 21′, 21″ ), a collar ( 200 ), slidably mountable on the finned tubing ( 10 ), equipped with a locking means and optionally one or more suture eyelets ( 250, 250′ ), said locking means configured to provide a locking force against one or more of the longitudinal fins ( 21, 21′, 21″ ). The invention allows securing of a medical tubing in situ that prevents slippage or damage to the tubing wall.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A medical tubing assembly ( 100 ) comprising:
 finned medical tubing ( 10 ) formed from an elongate tubular member ( 20 ) disposed with one or more longitudinal fins ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″), 
 a collar ( 200 ), slidably mountable on the finned tubing ( 10 ), equipped with a locking means and optionally one or more suture eyelets ( 250 ,  250 ′), 
 said locking means configured to provide a locking force against one or more of the longitudinal fins ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″). 
 
     
     
       2. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the number of fins ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″) is one, two, three or four. 
     
     
       3. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one fin ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″) projects radially from the outside surface of the elongate tubular member ( 20 ). 
     
     
       4. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking means comprises one or more pins ( 22 ,  221 ′,  221 ″), configured to frictionally engage or penetrate the surface of a fin ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″). 
     
     
       5. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking means comprises one or more screws, configured to frictionally engage or penetrate the surface of a fin ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″). 
     
     
       6. Assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein number of pins ( 221 ,  221 ′,  221 ″) or screws is equal to the number of fins, each pin ( 221 ,  221 ′,  221 ″) or screw configured to frictionally engage or penetrate the surface of a single fin ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″). 
     
     
       7. Assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein at least one pin ( 221 ,  221 ′,  221 ″) or screw comprises:
 a pointed end ( 226 ) configured to frictionally engage or penetrate the surface of a fin ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″), and 
 head end ( 224 ) configured to receive in the case of a pin a pushing force, or in the case of a screw a rotational force, which force advances the pointed end towards a fin ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″) to frictionally engage or penetrate its surface. 
 
     
     
       8. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking means comprises a clamp mechanism, configured to engage frictionally a surface of a fin ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″) with at least part of an aperture ( 210 ) in the collar ( 200 ) adapted to receive slidably the firmed medical tubing ( 10 ). 
     
     
       9. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one fin ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″) projects radially from the outside surface of the tubing increasing the maximum width of the tubing by no more than 50%. 
     
     
       10. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the locking means is disengageable. 
     
     
       11. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one longitudinal fin ( 21 ,  21 ′,  21 ″) extends continuously along the entire length of the elongate tubular member ( 20 ). 
     
     
       12. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one fin is at least partly castellated. 
     
     
       13. Assembly according to  claim 12 , wherein the castellation comprises a tandem arrangement of alternating tabs ( 60 ,  60 ′,  60 ″,  60 ″′) and notches ( 65 ,  65 ′,  65 ″,  65 ″′), and the tabs are adapted to facilitate entry of the tubing ( 10 ) into the subject and/or hinder withdrawal of the tubing ( 10 ) from the subject. 
     
     
       14. Assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the collar ( 20 ) comprises a coupling means ( 251 ). 
     
     
       15. Assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said coupling means ( 251 ) is adapted to couple to an afterloader. 
     
     
       16. Assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said coupling means ( 251 ) is adapted to couple to a laser emitting device. 
     
     
       17. Assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said coupling means ( 251 ) comprises a Luer fitting. 
     
     
       18. Assembly according to  claim 14 , wherein said coupling means ( 251 ) comprises a male or female screw fitting. 
     
     
       19. A catheter ( 300 ) incorporating an assembly ( 100 ) as defined in  claim 1 .